Atletico Demands €150 Million for Possible Julian Alvarez Departure. Julian Alvarez has refused to extend his contract with Atletico, despite being offered a deal to become the club’s highest-paid player. The club is demanding at least €150 million for his transfer.
A conflict has erupted at Atlético Madrid over the future of Julián Álvarez. The Argentine striker has officially notified the club of his unwillingness to extend his contract, despite being offered a salary of €10 million a year. According to MARCA, Álvarez prefers to move to a more ambitious project—specifically, to Barcelona, which has long shown interest in him.
Atlético's management has taken a hard stance: the club does not intend to let the player go for less than €150 million. In Madrid, they believe that only such a sum can compensate for the possible loss of one of their leaders. Meanwhile, at Barcelona, there is currently no way to make such a significant offer, and Atlético does not rule out that the Catalans may try to include players in the deal, such as Ferran Torres, who is of interest to Madrid's sporting management.
Within the club, it is noted that Álvarez's decision is not related to his relationship with Diego Simeone. On the contrary, it was under 'El Cholo' that the Argentine had his best seasons in Europe, surpassing the 20-goal mark twice. Simeone continued to trust the striker even during goal droughts, and Álvarez himself remained a key figure in attack. However, the desire to compete for trophies at another level outweighed his star status in Madrid.
The situation is further complicated by the position of the player's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, who has repeatedly created tension around Álvarez’s future. It is recalled that even during his move from Manchester City, the deal nearly collapsed due to additional commission demands. Now, according to sources, it is the agent who is actively promoting the idea of a transfer to Barcelona, despite Atletico’s firm stance.
The club does not rule out that the summer may turn into a protracted transfer saga. Part of the management insists on maintaining a tough line and fulfilling the terms of the contract, while others see a possible sale as an opportunity to refresh the squad and strengthen the budget. However, there is no question of making concessions to Barcelona — in Madrid, they do not believe the Catalans can meet the financial demands.
The topic of major transfers and their impact on European football remains relevant. For example, the Parisian club recently bet on a Russian goalkeeper in the race for the Champions League final — details about PSG's staffing decisions also sparked widespread reaction.
For reference: Julián Álvarez transferred to Atlético from Manchester City and quickly became one of the team’s key players. His possible departure could seriously affect the attacking potential of the Madrid club. In Spain, transfers of this scale are traditionally accompanied by complex negotiations and often become the main topic of the summer offseason. In Álvarez’s case, the situation is complicated not only by financial demands, but also by interest from one of La Liga’s main competitors.
